CPT code 69706: Eustachian tube dilation, bilateral, endoscopic2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports endoscopic dilation of both eustachian tubes, typically by balloon, to treat obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities4.6K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $2,660.72 for 69706 nationally in the office and $205.42 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $2,298.25–$3,772.46.

Medicare rate · 69706

Eustachian tube dilation, bilateral, endoscopic

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
4.16
Total RVUs
79.66
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$2,660.72

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 69706 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 69706 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 69706 covers

An otolaryngologist reaches the eustachian tube openings through the nose using a nasopharyngoscope, then dilates both tubes, commonly with a balloon catheter. The procedure is used for obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction, which can cause persistent ear pressure, trouble equalizing pressure, or middle-ear ventilation problems. It may be performed in an office-based procedure setting or a facility, depending on the patient and practice setup.

Report 69706 when both eustachian tubes are surgically dilated during the session; use the unilateral code when only one side is treated. The operative note should identify the treated sides, the dilation performed, and the clinical findings supporting treatment. The bilateral service is already reflected in the code, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. This minor procedure has a 0-day global period, including same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When related endoscopies are performed together, CMS endoscopy family pricing applies. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 69706 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 payment localities

$2298.25 to $3772.46

$2298.25$3035.36$3772.46
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

69706 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$2,339.30$190.91
Alaska$2,883.80$268.91
Arizona$2,580.28$201.09
Arkansas$2,298.25$189.15
Atlanta, GA$2,705.19$210.60
Austin, TX$2,803.81$206.10
Bakersfield, CA$2,895.69$204.68
Baltimore area, MD$2,850.31$215.78
Beaumont, TX$2,434.14$199.81
Brazoria, TX$2,634.90$201.70

69706 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$2,298.25

$3,333.20

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
69706 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$2,883.801
AL$2,339.301
AR$2,298.251
AZ$2,580.281
CA$2,893.94–$3,772.4629
CO$2,818.101
CT$2,860.341
DC$3,115.791
DE$2,629.371
FL$2,560.72–$2,793.933
GA$2,394.38–$2,705.192
GU$2,995.021
HI$2,995.021
IA$2,435.981
ID$2,450.021
IL$2,454.35–$2,744.714
IN$2,467.791
KS$2,410.611
KY$2,381.321
LA$2,372.18–$2,515.842
MA$2,791.46–$3,149.542
MD$2,690.48–$3,115.793
ME$2,453.00–$2,630.812
MI$2,445.65–$2,586.902
MN$2,719.161
MO$2,314.96–$2,540.673
MS$2,307.751
MT$2,660.681
NC$2,485.871
ND$2,648.811
NE$2,455.621
NH$2,760.781
NJ$2,898.38–$3,071.112
NM$2,457.101
NV$2,659.871
NY$2,529.68–$3,159.615
OH$2,443.231
OK$2,388.561
OR$2,644.76–$2,935.502
PA$2,454.47–$2,769.662
PR$2,687.931
RI$2,743.751
SC$2,467.581
SD$2,647.411
TN$2,423.781
TX$2,434.14–$2,803.818
UT$2,508.571
VA$2,612.29–$3,115.792
VI$2,687.931
VT$2,625.801
WA$2,790.32–$3,231.892
WI$2,541.781
WV$2,341.631
WY$2,655.511

How the 69706 rate is calculated

Each of 69706’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 69706

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.16

4.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense74.90

74.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.60

0.60 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

79.6600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$2,660.72

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 69706

The CMS indicators that decide how 69706 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 69706

Eustachian tube dilation, bilateral, endoscopic

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures3Endoscopy family rules apply.
Bilateral (modifier 50)2Already bilateral by definition: paid once at 100%.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

69706 without 51 · national office

$2,660.72

Eustachian tube dilation, bilateral, endoscopic

69706-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$1,330.36

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

69706 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 69706

    Eustachian tube dilation, bilateral, endoscopic4.16 wRVU

    $2,660.72

  • 69705

    Eustachian tube dilation, unilateral endoscopic dilation2.93 wRVU

    $2,569.87−$90.85

  • 69436

    Tympanostomy, tube insertion, general anesthesia1.96 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 92511

    Nasopharyngoscopy, endoscopic nasopharynx exam0.59 wRVU

    $115.90−$2,544.82

How to choose

69705Eustachian tube dilationUnilateral endoscopic dilation
This is the unilateral sibling. Choose 69705 for dilation of one eustachian tube and 69706 for dilation of both.
69436TympanostomyTube insertion, general anesthesia
69436 places a ventilation tube through the tympanic membrane, while 69706 dilates both eustachian tubes endoscopically through the nose.
92511NasopharyngoscopyEndoscopic nasopharynx exam
92511 is diagnostic nasopharyngoscopy. It does not represent surgical dilation of both eustachian tubes.

69706 billing questions

When should 69706 be used instead of 69705?

Use 69706 when both eustachian tubes are surgically dilated in the session. Use 69705 when dilation is performed on one side only.

Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral treatment?

No. 69706 is already priced as a bilateral service, and modifier 50 does not increase payment.

Can the nasopharyngoscopy used to guide dilation be reported separately?

The endoscopic approach is part of the surgical dilation service. Do not separately report a diagnostic scope for the visualization used to perform that same dilation.

What documentation supports reporting 69706?

Document the obstructive eustachian tube condition, the clinical findings supporting treatment, and that dilation was performed on both sides.

What happens when another related endoscopy is performed in the same session?

CMS endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. The claim is subject to that family pricing rather than treating each related endoscopy as an entirely independent procedure.

Can an assistant surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is available only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 69706PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,647 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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